How Can Built Environment Professionals Better Engage with the Ecosystem Approach

Alister Scott Birmingham City University

Structure

• Interview with a planner

• Communication and the Ecosystem Approach

• Hooks for engagement• Crossing a divide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxONiY-3heI

• What is the key ecosystem approach message?• Overcoming the ‘environmental’ label • Confusion of academic terms and jargon • Evolution or revolution for work practice? • Beware Ecosystem Messiahs

Lets be NEATer

Built Environment Hooks

• Place-making

• NPPF

• Regulatory Tools – SEA Sustainability Appraisal – EIA – SuDS

• Duty to Cooperate– Housing needs– Flooding – GI

How to get Interests together

Source: Jim Davies Env Agency

How to value ecosystem services in policy

How to value ecosystem services in policy

• SURVEY phase incorporating MAPPING ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT

• Using/Adapting existing Regulatory tools within an Ecosystem services Framework

• SEA EIA CBA

How not to value ecosystem services

• Selective cherry picking of ecosystem services in isolation

• Using financial values alone (intrinsic and cultural)

Crossing the planning vs. environment divide

• Communication still leaves a lot to be desired. • Finding hooks vital to progress discussion and

partnerships • Planners not well embedded in ecosystem

lexicon • Importance of having sound evidence base for

use in planning tools to identify trade-offs • Shared language of multiple benefits unites.

So what

Completing the Jigsaw

Strategic Environment

al Assessment

Learning by doing

Monitoring and

indicatorsValuation

Embedding in existing

programmeEvidence

Tools to enable

local delivery

Ecosystem Approach Guidance

Public Participation

Plan Development